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Dallas Continues To Woo RNC Committee

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Dallas is continuing to do its best to woo the Republican National Convention site selection committee. A group of RNC officials are touring possible locations for the 2016 convention, and Dallas is on the list. The city rolled out the red carpet for their arrival on Wednesday.

Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and Rowdy the mascot greeted the committee at the airport, and the Dallas skyline was lit up on Wednesday night in the group’s honor. But much-needed rain on Thursday cast a little bit of a shadow over planned events.

The site selection committee left the Ritz Carlton hotel on Thursday morning for breakfast at Klyde Warren Park. They spoke with local leaders there about the best that Dallas has to offer. The group then traveled to a very important stop on the agenda — the American Airlines Center. A large crowd greeted the commitee with much fanfare and hoopla when they arrived.

The American Airlines Center is a possible location for the July 2016 convention.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison escorted the committee chairwoman and other members down another red carpet. They were greeted by city volunteers, the Dallas Mavericks cheerleaders and two real elephants, the symbol of the Republican party. The welcome was enthusiastically appreciated by the committee.

“It’s absolutely beautiful here,” added committee member Sandy Boehler. “Everybody is so great. I mean, so much abotu the people, too. They’ve extended such a warm welcome to us, so it’s really been exciting to be here.”

The selection committee will talk about the decision some more next week, and could possibly narrow down the list of potential host cities. Once the committee votes, that recommendation is sent to the full RNC governing body, which meets in Chicago in August. That is when a final choice is expected to be made.